He said a review of the Feb. 21 pursuit has been completed. He declined to release the report, but agreed to answer a reporter’s questions about it.

He said the review supports his early assessment that the decision to begin the chase and continue it through major city thoroughfares was justified and within the guidelines of department policy.

The sheriff's office acknowledged the fleeing vehicle — and the deputies who pursued it — reached high speeds along several city streets, including a stretch near Hillcrest High School where speeds reached 100 mph.

The pursuit policy states that deputies should chase a fleeing vehicle only if the danger of letting the suspect escape outweighs the danger created by the high-speed pursuit.

It also states that “a pursuit shall be terminated” if the suspect’s identity “has been established to the point that later apprehension can be accomplished, and there is no longer any need for immediate apprehension.”

Challenged by the News-Leader on Wednesday, Arnott said the policy and circumstances must be considered as a whole. He noted the suspect had absconded from parole and appeared to be driving erratically.

Before activating his patrol car’s lights and sirens north of Springfield city limits, Lt. Jeremy Lynn knew he was following 29-year-old Jason Capps, court documents show.

Capps had a felony warrant for his arrest after violating parole stemming from an earlier burglary conviction.

No one was injured during the roughly 30-minute pursuit that followed, though court records say Capps forced several cars into the ditch as he ignored stop lights and drove in opposing lanes of midday traffic.

Arnott, who was involved in the pursuit himself, argues Capps appeared to be under the influence and was a threat to motorists.

Capps was seen throwing things out of the window during the pursuit. Afterward, deputies recovered several grams of what is believed to be methamphetamine.

Arnott also had said Capps was suspected of burglaries in the county-served areas but — seven weeks later — Capps has only been charged in Greene County with felony resisting arrest stemming from the chase.

The call to continue the chase, Arnott said, was made because Capps would have been a danger to motorists whether or not he was being chased by law enforcement.

Arnott said that, at times, the pursuit was terminated but picked up again when motorists called 911 to report a reckless, speeding vehicle.

“He was a threat,” Arnott said.

“Whether we were behind him or not, he was driving so erratic that he had to be apprehended,’ he said.

The News-Leader continues to seek a copy of the written review of the chase.